United in Love for Mother

Last summer, in the midst of the sweltering heat, God blessed me with the best vacation I could ever imagine—a short-term mission trip to Lucena located in Quezon Province, the Philippines.

Lucena is about a three-hour drive from Manila. After landing at the airport, we stepped outside to meet our ride, and to our surprise, a cool breeze greeted us—thanks to a typhoon passing through the Philippines at that time. The members from Lucena Zion who came to welcome us said that it had been scorching hot just the day before, and they were amazed at how suddenly the weather had changed. From the very beginning, it felt as though God was watching over and guiding our journey.

Any initial awkwardness we felt when meeting the local members quickly faded away. Perhaps it was because we had already shared the same prayers and the same heart long before arriving. United by a common goal—to bring joy to Heavenly Mother by finding one hundred heavenly family members who would become the pillars of Lucena Zion—we began our mission with hearts full of excitement and hope.

The people of the Philippines have deep-rooted faith in God, so we expected many to show interest in the truth. To our surprise, however, most declined to listen, saying they were too busy. Instead of feeling discouraged, we regarded it as an opportunity to depend on God even more, praying earnestly that He would open the doors of the gospel for us.

The power of prayer soon became evident. Though it was not easy for people to listen at first, once they heard the truth, their responses changed completely. Seeing them come to understand God’s will deeply moved us and filled our hearts with renewed determination to share the gospel with even more souls.

When we set out to preach in a nearby region, I realized how truly joyful it is to preach the gospel with our heavenly family. To reach the branch church in Marinduque, we had to leave at 3 a.m. and take a three-hour ferry ride. Though we had barely slept, we did not feel tired at all. Some members who joined us from a nearby pre-branch church had slept for less than two hours, yet there was not the slightest trace of fatigue on their faces. Instead, their passion and faith uplifted and energized us all.

The real challenge came afterward. I wanted to share the truth of the new covenant more deeply—to help people understand the love of God contained within it—but my limited language ability made it difficult to do so. Meaningful conversations were possible only in Filipino, so I relied greatly on the help of the local members. Whenever someone visited Zion to study the word of God, the local brothers and sisters skillfully wielded the sword of truth, clearly distinguishing between what was true and false. As they preached about God the Mother, the Passover, baptism, and the New Name of Jesus, I could feel their unwavering conviction—the radiant light of truth shining beyond any language barrier.

Our mission team focused on helping each Bible study session run smoothly. We greeted every visitor to Zion with warmth and care, offering cool water and a fan to make them comfortable. When it was time for them to leave, we cheerfully sent them off with the words, “We love you!” Through this unity and heartfelt devotion, Heavenly Mother poured out abundant blessings—filling both those who preached and those who listened with the Holy Spirit. One by one, our lost brothers and sisters returned into the loving arms of our Heavenly Parents.

Brother Ariel had been a devoted Catholic for many years, but his busy work schedule had kept him from attending church. When he heard the truth, his heart opened immediately. He accepted God the Mother, expressed his desire to keep the Passover, and soon became a child of God. While studying the Bible, he discovered that the Sabbath is on Saturday and became deeply concerned, knowing he had to work that day. Nevertheless, he was determined to keep God’s commandments, even if it meant adjusting his schedule. True to his word, he arrived at Zion an hour before the Sabbath worship and kept it with a thankful heart.

After waiting patiently for an hour amid a line of baptisms, Sister Jopay finally received hers. Through the Bible, she confirmed the prophecies and their fulfillment concerning the Second Coming Christ, wholeheartedly accepted the truth, and began to keep the Sabbath with a sincere heart. Just two days later, in Dalahican—a nearby region where a pre-branch church was located—a woman and her children were also baptized. To our amazement, that woman turned out to be Sister Jopay’s older sister. We were overwhelmed with gratitude as we witnessed how God lovingly guided the two sisters—though living in different places—to walk together on the same path of salvation.

Among the more than one hundred souls who were granted new life were a family who received baptism late at night after realizing the truth; two best friends who became spiritual sisters; and a brother who, after working through the night, attended the Sabbath worship with a firm resolve to keep God’s commandments.

Blessings poured down like a waterfall, and amid such abundant grace, we realized how important it was to continually nourish these new souls with the bread of life. Each year in Lucena Zion, many brothers and sisters came into the embrace of God, yet there are too few workers to care for them all, so each member takes on many roles. Those in charge of the pre-branch churches divide their hours between their jobs and the gospel, devoting every spare moment to caring for the members and preaching the truth. The members of Lucena Zion lovingly tended not only to their own fruits but also to those borne through the mission team, visiting home after home to share the words of God.

At first, I worried that the members might feel lonely—surrounded by many who believe in God but few who truly follow His ways. Yet my concern soon proved unfounded. Their hearts overflowed with love and joy for Heavenly Mother. The glimmer of sweat on their faces as they labored to save a single soul, the light in their eyes as they testified to the truth—these shone brighter than any earthly light. Each one radiated the love of Mother, and together, their united glow illuminated Lucena like a beacon of heaven’s grace.

Watching the members of Zion joyfully devote themselves in their respective roles, treating every task as an offering to Heavenly Mother, I came to understand what true unity really means. I also reflected on whether I had fully appreciated the blessing of dedicating my time to God’s work. Even in the most challenging moments, I will strive to remember the value of the mission entrusted to me and to carry it out with love for my heavenly family—for it is that very love that embodies true unity and gives the strength to fulfill the work of the gospel.

I give eternal thanks and glory to God Elohim, who has allowed the light of Mother’s love to shine through the darkness of this world, where truth and falsehood are hard to discern, and who has guided us to our long-lost heavenly family. I pray that the members of Lucena Zion will continue to shine the light of the truth ever more brightly and widely.